Devices for dividing into at least two portions a stream of a mixture of a liquid fluid and a gaseous fluid



g- 6, 1968 A. 1.. MENNESSON DEVICES FOR DIVIDING INTO AT LEAST TWO PORTIONS A STREAM OF A MIXTURE OF. A LIQUID FLUID AND A GASEOUS FLUID Filed June 24, 1966 lNVE N TOR films lows f'lennsssdu Sk hms w Ma ATTORNEY United States Patent 14 Claims. in. 137-561) The present invention relates to devices for dividing into at least two portions a stream of a mixture of a liquid fluid and a gaseous fluid, such a device comprising a single inlet pipe and at least two outlet pipes between which the mixture supplied by the inlet pipe is to be divided into portions of identical respective volume and composition. The invention is more especially concerned with devices of this kind for mixtures of a liquid fuel and of a gaseous combustion supporting gas, generally air, such a mixture being fed from a single carbureiting device and being intended to be distributed among the cylinders (or group of cylinders) of an internal combustion engine. A carburetor with a flow dividing device has been described in my US. Patent No. 3,198,498 of Aug. 3, 1965, for Pressure Carburetors.

It is known that it is diflicult to divide a mixture of liquid and air into equal portions because the two components of this mixture generally tend to separate from each other. As a matter of fact, the liquid fluid tends to adhere by capillarity to the walls of the conduits located upstream of the outlet conduits. Furthermore, every time the direction of the mixture is changed, the centrifugal force has a much greater effect upon the liquid fluid, which is denser, so that after such a change of direction, the two fluids are practically separated from each other.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those existing at the present time and in particular which is capable of sending into each of the outlet pipes a mixture of the same composition and volume at any time.

The invention consists chiefly in arranging the device so that it comprises, in addition to a main circuit through which the mixture fed from the inlet pipe is caused to flow in front of the inlets of the outlet pipes in a direction substantially at right angles to said inlets, an auxiliary circuit capable of returning to the inlet pipe the remainder of the mixture which has flown past said inlets without penetrating thereinto, the system being preferably such that the circulation of the mixture arriving through the inlet pipe creates a suction in the portion of the auxiliary circuit opening into said inlet pipe, which suction has for its effect to accelerate the mixture flow through the auxiliary circuit.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the appended drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show, in axial section on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and in plan view, respectively, a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 and 4 are respectively an axial sectional view on the line IIIIII of FIG. 4 and a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view of a device made according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of a device made according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

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FIGS. 8 and 9 are an axial sectional view on the line VII IVIII of FIG. 9 and a plan view, respectively, of a device made according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

The device according to this invention comprises a mixture inlet pipe 1 receiving, for instance, an air and fuel mixture under pressure, and at least two outlet pipes 2 (for instance four such pipes, as illustrated by the drawings) connected to respective intake pipes of an internal combustion engine.

The device according to the present invention comprises, on the one hand, a main circuit for the circulation of the mixture from inlet pipe 1 to the inlets 2a of outlet pipes 2, the mixture flowing through said main circuit in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the pipes 2 and, on the other hand, an auxiliary circuit for returning to inlet pipe 1 the portion of the mixture that has flown past inlets 2a without entering them.

Preferably, and in particular as shown by FIGS. 2 and 4, the outlet pipes 2, at least the portions thereof adjoining their inlets 2a, are disposed, at least approximately, in a common cylindrical surface the axis of which coincides with the end portion of inlet pipe 1. The main circuit is located in a plane perpendicular to said axis and passing substantially through the end of pipe 1.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the main circuit consists of conduits 3 extending radially from inlet pipe 1 and each of which leads to the inlet end 2a of an outer pipe 2.

The auxiliary circuit is constituted by conduits 4 which form extensions of conduits 3 beyond the ends 2a of conduits 2 and by conduits 5 and 6 which connect conduits 4 with inlet pipe 1 at a point thereof upstream of conduits 3. Every main circuit branch 3 and the corresponding auxiliary circuit branch 4-5-6 are disposed in a plane passing through the axis of the end portion of inlet pipe 1. Advantageously, conduits 5 are disposed along the generatrices of a cylinder or cone of revolution about this axis.

Advantageously the device is arranged so that the flow of mixture through inlet pipe 1 creates a suction in the portion of the auxiliary circuit branches adjacent to said inlet pipe 1. For this purpose, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, conduits 6 are oblique with respect to inlet pipe 1 so that their outlets 6a, through which they open into said pipe 1, are located at the front of said conduits in the direction of circulation through inlet pipe 1.

The device of FIGS. 1 and 2 works as follows:

Inlet pipe 1 supplies an air and liquid fuel mixture which, at the outlet of said pipe 1, is divided among the respective conduit 3. It is found that, if the auxiliary circuit 4-5-6 is stopped, the air and fuel mixture at the end of pipe 1 is not homogeneous, so that some of the outlet pipes 2 are fed with more liquid than the others. On the contrary, with the auxiliary circuit 4-5-6 in operation, the mixture flowing through conduits 3 passes across the inlets 2a of outlet pipes 2 with a very high velocity and the portion of said mixture which has not passed into outlet pipes 2 is reintroduced into pipe 1 through holes 6a, this mixture being homogenized downstream of said holes 6a and, in particular, at the inner ends of conduits 3. Thus, owing to the provision of auxiliary circuit 4-5-6, the amounts of liquid fluid and gaseous fluid, respectively, conveyed through pipes 2 are made equal for all of said pipes.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the main circuit is constituted by a common chamber 7 the walls of which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the end portion of inlet pipe 1, said walls being sufficiently close for causing the mixture to flow with a high velocity across inlets 2a of pipes 2. For a mixture flow rate corresponding to twenty liters per hour of gasoline, the distance between these walls may be of the order of 0.3 mm. In this case, the auxiliary circuit comprises an annular extension 8 of chamber 7 beyond the inlets 2a of outlet pipes 2. Thus the whole of chamber 7 and its annular extension 8 forms a single chamber having advantageously a circular outline. The auxiliary circuit further comprises an annular groove 9, the axis of which coincides with that of the end portion of inlet pipe 1, and several conduits 10 opening at 10a into inlet pipe 1. In order to obtain that the flow of the mixture through pipe 1 may create a section in the portion of the auxiliary circuit opening into inlet pipe 1, that is to say at orifices 10a, said orifices are located in the neck of a venturi 11 provided in pipe 1.

The embodiment of FIG. diflers from that of FIGS. 3 and 4 by the fact that it comprises a single transverse chamber 12 to replace the conduits of FIGS. 34. Furthermore, oblique conduits 13 are interposed between chamber 12 and a groove 9a analogous to the groove 9 of FIG. 3. Finally, the venturi 11 of FIG. 3 is replaced by a suction device arrangement shown on an enlarged scale by FIG. 6. This device comprises a portion 14 of pipe 1, located between chambers 12 and 7, the inlet of which (in the direction of circulation illustrated by the arrows) has a cross section a little greater than the remainder of pipe 1, said portion 14 diverging toward the top. Owing to the provision of this pipe portion 14, the sream of mixture fed through pipe 1 produces a suction over the whole periphery of chamber 12 and consequently in conduits 13, which activates the circulation in auxiliary circuit 8, 9a, 13, 12.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIG. 5 by the provision of a plurality of passages 15 which replace the whole of groove 9a and conduits 13. Each of these passages 15 is advantageously located in an axial plane passing through the end 2a of a pipe 2.

It should be well understood, that, account being taken of the value of the flow stream to be divided into portions, the cross sections of pipes 1 and 2, and also those of chambers 7 and 12 and of passages 15, must be calculated so that the velocity of flow of the mixture is high. As a matter of fact, in the case of an insuflicient velocity, liquid might accumulate, by the effect of capillarity, in the bottom of chamber 7, 8 or, anyway, over a given angular sector thereof. It is probable that one or several of the outlet pipes 2 would then be located opposite pure liquid fluid whereas the remaining outlets would be located opposite pure gaseous fluid, which would result in differences of composition of the mixtures fed to the respective pipes 2. This way it is necessary to avoid the formation of amounts of liquid fluid at any point of chamber 7, 8, which requires emptying it as quickly as possible through passages 15 or groove 9 or 9a, so as to return the liquid fluid into the inlet pipe.

The embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 differs from that of FIG. 7 in that every outlet pipe 2, instead of having a single inlet 2a, includes two such inlets 2b and 2c disposed transversely with respect to chamber 7 and connected together as shown by FIGS. 8 and 9. Preferably, as shown, inlets 2b and 2c are located at two points of chamber 7, '8 remote from each other. In the case of a device including four outlet pipes 2 and two inlets 2b, for every pipe, said inlets may be disposed on a circle the center of which is located on the axis of the end portion of inlet pipe 1. Three inlets might be provided for every pipe 2 and in this case their total number would be twelve. In order to facilitate the connection between the inlets 2b and 2c of each pipe 2, the latter may be oblique with respect to the above mentioned axis, as shown by FIG. 8.

With at least two inlets for every outlet pipe (an arrangement which might be applied also in the case of FIGS. 1 to 5), if an excess of liquid fiuid exists in the inlet 2b of a pipe 2 with respect to the instantaneous mean composition of the mixture, this excess is compensated for by a lack of liquid in the inlet 2c of the same pipe. It follows that this arrangement ensures in every pipe 2 the feed of a mixture the quantity and composition of which are equal to those of the mixtures flowing through the other pipes 2.

As shown by the drawings, when the main auxiliary circuits are constituted by separate conduits (FIGS. 1 and 2), the device may be constituted by a single piece provided with suitable bores, the latter being stopped at their outer ends by plugs 16. On the contrary, when one of the circuits comprises at least one continuous chamber such as 7, 8 or 12 (FIGS. 3 to 9) the device is generally constituted by pieces joined together along planes passing through said chambers to permit machining thereof. The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 3-4, 5-6, 7, 8-9 is the same as that above described with reference to FIGS. 1-2.

In a general manner, while the above description discloses what are deemed to be practical and eflicient embodiments of the present invention, said invention is not limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. A device for dividing into at least two portions a steam of a mixture of a liquid fluid and a gaseous fluid, which comprises in combination,

a mixture inlet pipe, at least two mixture outlet pipes, means forming a mixture main path connecting the outlet end of said inlet pipe with the inlets of said outlet pipes, said main path extending substantially at right angles to said mixture outlet pipe inlets,

and means forming a mixture auxiliary circuit including a first portion extending from said mixture main path outwardly beyond said outlet pipe inlets and a second portion starting from said first portion outer ends and leading into said mixture inlet pipe upstream of the outlet end thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the portions of said outlet pipes adjoining the inlet ends thereof are disposed along generatrices of a cylinder the axis of which is that of the end portion of the mixture inlet pipe, the mixture main path being disposed in a plane prependicular to said axis and switch passes substantially through the end of said mixture inlet pipe.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the mixture main path consists of two conduits each extending from the outlet end of the mixture inlet pipe to the inlet of one of said mixture outlet pipes.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means forming the mixture main path consists of a chamber limited by two fiat walls close to each other and perpendicular to the outlet end of said mixture inlet pipe.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary circuit consists of two branches each including a series of several conduits and each starting from the mixture main path and ending into the mixture inlet pipe at a point thereof upstream of its outlet end.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the conduits of said auxiliary circuit opening onto the mixture inlet pipe are oblique to said last mentioned pipe so as to create in said auxiliary circuit a suction adapted to accelerate the flow of the mixture circulating therein.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein-the mixture main path consists of two conduits each extending from the outlet end of the mixture inlet pipe to the inlet of one of said mixture outlet pipes, respectively,

and said auxiliary circuit consists of two branches each including several conduits and each starting from the end of one of the mixture main path conduits and ending into the mixture inlet pipe at a point thereof upstream of its outlet end, each of the sets of conduits comprising one mixture main path conduit and the corresponding auxiliary circuit branch being located in a radial plane passing through the mixture inlet pipe.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means forming the mixture main path consist of a chamber limited by two flat walls close to each other and perpendicular to the outlet end of said mixture inlet pipe,

and the auxiliary circuit consists of an annular peripheral extension of said chamber,

an annular cylindrical groove extending rearwardly from said annular peripheral extension,

and radial conduits each connecting a point of the rear end of said annular cylindrical groove with a point of said mixture inlet pipe located upstream of the outlet end thereof.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary circuit comprises a transverse chamber extending across said mixture inlet pipe and intersecting it at a point upstream of its outlet end.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means forming the mixture main path consist of a chamber limited by two flat walls close to each other and perpendicular to the outlet end of said mixture inlet pipe,

and the auxiliary circuit consists of an annular peripheral extension of said chamber,

a rearwardly extending annular groove communicating with said annular extension,

a transverse chamber extending across said mixture inlet pipe and intersecting it at a point upstream of its outlet end,

and separate conduits interconnecting said annular peripheral extension with said transverse chamber.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means forming the mixture main path consist of a chamber limited by two flat walls close to each other and perpendicular to the outlet end of said mixture inlet pipe,

and the auxiliary circuit consists of an annular peripheral extension of said chamber,

a transverse chamber extending across said mixture inlet pipe and intersecting it at a point upstream of its outlet end,

and separate conduits interconnecting said annular peripheral extension with said transverse chamber.

12. A device according to claim 1 wherein the portion of said mixture inlet pipe extending beyond the point where the second mentioned portion of said auxiliary circuit opens thereinto is divergent so that a suction is exerted in said auxiliary circuit tending to accelerate the flow of the mixture circulating therein.

13. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said mixture outlet pipes has two inlets located at a distance from each other.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein said mixture outlet pipes are inclined with respect to the direction of said mixture inlet pipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,143,129 8/1964 Anderson l37-561 3,158,166 11/1964 Warren 13781.5 3,272,231 9/1966 Livingston 137561 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

W. R. CLINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DIVIDING INTO AT LEAST TWO PORTIONS A STEAM OF A MIXTURE OF A LIQUID FLUID AND A GASEOUS FLUID, WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION, A MIXTURE INLET PIPE, AT LEAST TWO MIXTURE OUTLET PIPES, MEANS FORMING A MIXTURE MAIN PATH CONNECTING THE OUTLET END OF SAID INLET PIPE WITH THE INLETS OF SAID OUTLET PIPES, AND MAIN PATH EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID MIXTURE OUTLET PIPE INLETS, AND MEANS FORMING A MIXTURE AUXILIARY CIRCUIT INCLUDING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID MIXTURE MAIN PATH OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID OUTLET PIPE INLETS AND A SECONDARY PORTION STARTING FROM SAID FIRST PORTION OUTER ENDS AND LEADING INTO SAID MIXTURE INLET PIPE UPSTREAM OF THE OUTLET END THEREOF. 